Day 15 | The Log in My Eye

“But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. – 1 John 1:7-8 NCV

I’ve swallowed a big dose of my own pride over the last week. I’ve been a bad friend to someone I love — and admitting it and seeking redemption brought no relief.

God, have mercy.

I’ve been so quick to point out the speck in my friends eye, while ignoring the heaping log in my own. My judgement, my pride, my inherent sense of self-preservation… it’s staggering and shameful.

God, have mercy.

The road to redemption and relational healing in this case is painful, long, and wrought with deep potholes and broken bridges. I really don’t know what to do.

God, have mercy.

And my mind keeps telling me a cookie might make it a little better. But I must be strong.

God, have mercy.

Today I stumbled on the words below, written by Rick Warren — author of the Daniel Plan. They brought me life — and I thought I’d share.

It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.

Authenticity is the exact opposite of what you find in many churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, there is pretending, role-playing, politicking and superficial politeness, but shallow conversation.

People wear masks, keep their guards up, and act as if everything is rosy in their lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship.

It’s only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship. The Bible says, “If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other.… If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves” (1 John 1:7–8, NCV).

The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures and flaws. But in the light, we bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are.

Of course, being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection and being hurt again.

Why would anyone take such a risk?

Because it’s the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy. The Bible says, “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed” ( James 5:16a, Msg).

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